Tag: small bathroom

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: UPSTAIRS BATHROOM OPTIONS

Since I recently posted about the most important aspects of bathroom design, I thought it would be a good time to take another look at the bathrooms I have been designing for our cottage.

I’m pretty happy with the location and layouts of both the main floor and lower level bathrooms, but the upstairs bath has me scratching my head. I asked Craig for help determining the best fixture positions – and, let’s just say he wasn’t super helpful. I really need to bounce these ideas off of someone, so I figured I could trust the loyal readers of this blog to give me some advice and guidance. I know you won’t let me down!

First, let me set the stage:

The bathroom location is not up for debate. The upstairs of the cottage is essentially three rooms, plus a hallway space. The bathroom is situated in between the boy’s and girls’ bedrooms. When someone walks up to the second level, they will enter a small hall space. Looking past the hall is the bathroom.

Because the second story of our cottage will be built underneath the roof trusses, the ceilings of each room will be sloped. In the image above, the dashed line that runs from the girl’s bedroom window to the boy’s bedroom window is the highest point of the vaulted ceiling. You can get an idea of what the pitch looks like by reading the post about the BOY’S BEDROOM. In section form – meaning if you were to slice the house in half, from the top of the roof down to the foundation – the second floor will look like this:



 

The sloped ceiling will add an element of interest and character that we are really excited about. However, in order to ensure that the bathroom fixtures are functional, I have been taking extra care in finding the most efficient position for each. This will be a 3/4 bathroom – containing a toilet, sink, and stand up shower. It will be a bit tricky to fit all three fixtures in the space, but Craig and I agree that it is important for the kids to have their own fully functional bathroom on the same level as their bedrooms.

The slope of the ceiling for the bathroom will be around 4′-6″ at it’s lowest, on the outer wall (see notes below) to 9′-0″ at the door. The slope is quite dramatic. Residential building code dictates that a minimum of 6′-8″ head clearance be available at the front face/center of each fixture.

I have come up with three different layouts, each with their own merits and challenges. They are all in plan form. I understand that plans can be difficult to read for some people – and I apologize that I don’t have them in 3D form yet. I am kind of hoping to go forward with the three dimensional designing once a front-runner of these options has been chosen. * note: the shaded ‘x’ on each of the plans represents a mechanical chase that also needs to remain*

 

OPTION 1

This bathroom option includes 40 square feet of space. It is the most compact and likely also the most cost efficient of the three options. It features a pocket door to save floor space in the room, as well as a smaller fiberglass shower unit. The vanity is 4′-8″ long and the back of the toilet’s tank is situated along the shortest wall. The bonus of this option is that the sleeping nook in the boy’s bedroom would gain a small cubby/shelf space. I also appreciate that the hallway can be left a tad larger. The main thing I do not care for in this layout is that the toilet is quite visible from the hallway if you are walking up the stairs and the door is open. Also, the kids might appreciate a larger shower than this option allows.

 



 

OPTION 2

The next option is slightly larger, at 42 square feet, and offers a spacious shower. Because of the way that the ceiling slopes, it would need to be a custom tiled unit – which, no doubt, would be more expensive. I like the idea of the vanity being the first thing you see when you walk into the room, but am not in love with the fact that the wall behind it is only 5′-0″ high. I imagine the mirror for the vanity in this option would need to be placed on the wall that is shared with the shower. Maybe a pull out variety similar to THIS. The vanity itself is 3′-0″ long.

My favorite aspect of this layout is the privacy that the toilet has. It is sort of tucked behind the door when it is open, and completely hidden from view from the hallway.

 

OPTION 3

The final option is the largest, at 44 square feet. The vanity is 4′-6″ long and the shower is the same size as option 2’s shower. Again, it would be a custom tiled unit. I think that the fixtures are most easily accessible in this version and there seems to be more room to move about. The thought of the toilet being front and center when you enter the room is the thing that concerns me the most about this design.



 

I have started a couple of boards on Pinterest to further narrow the finishes and design elements I would like to incorporate. You can take a peek HERE and HERE.

Also – in case you are having a hard time visualizing what a bathroom with a slope ceiling might look like, PINTEREST has you covered. Lots of unique ideas there, always.

 

Now, I have an important favor to ask. Pretty, pretty please – could you comment on this post or on the social media link? Let me know which of these options you think is best, or which you would eliminate completely. Maybe there is a layout idea that I am completely missing. Let me know!

I will keep a tally of all the comments and let you all know which way I plan to proceed with the fun 3D portion of the design!

Thanks everyone!

 

 

THE 8 MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF BATHROOM DESIGN

They aren’t glamorous. In fact, they are quite possibly the most forgotten – while at the same time, most useful – room in the house. The bathroom.

Every house needs one; But when it comes to design, homeowners tend to spend very little time contemplating what makes a bathroom perform to the best of it’s ability. Whether you are planning a brand new bathroom or are wanting to spruce up one that is existing – these eight aspects are the ones you should focus on first.



1. LOCATION

The common Real Estate motto should echo when deciding where to place a bathroom: location, location, location. Generally speaking, bathrooms are places where people want privacy. With that being said – the first guideline of positioning a bathroom is that it should not be directly adjacent, or open into, to a very public space in your home – such as the living room.

Secondly, there should be a bathroom accessible to everyone who uses the home – from those who live in it, to the guests that visit. If the only bathroom on the main level is the master bath, for example, your guests will have to travel through your master bedroom to access it. Consider a powder room or larger hall bathroom that is easily found.

Bathrooms are also in prime position near bedrooms on other levels of a home. Searching for one in the middle of the night, when needed, can be a dangerous adventure.

 

2. FIXTURES NEEDED

The next major aspect to consider is in regards to the function of the bathroom itself – by indicating which fixtures the room will require. The most common fixtures include the toilet, sink, shower, and bathtub; But custom fixtures, such as a bidet, may also be requested.

The bathroom count of a home relies more on the number and types of fixtures that each one has than the square footage allocated. Generally, a bathroom is considered a ‘half bath‘ or ‘powder room’ if it contains two fixtures: A sink and a toilet.

A ‘three quarter bathroom‘ will contain these basic fixtures plus a shower; and a ‘full bathroom‘ contains all four fixtures: sink, toilet, shower, and bath-tub. (The bath-tub/ shower can be a combo unit).

 

3. SIZE

There is definitely a comfort factor when it comes to bathroom size. There needs to be enough space so that each fixture can be accessed and used properly. However, an overly large room can create an uncomfortable atmosphere.The user may feel awkward when using a too large room.

Think carefully about how much space is needed to comfortably use each fixture in the bathroom. You may be surprised to learn that the room can be much smaller than you initially thought!

As you can see from this graphic, the bathroom on the left is quite cramped. The bathroom on the right, containing the same three fixtures, is too large – with a large amount of wasted space in the center.

 

4. VIEWS INTO ROOM

Although the door is typically closed when a bathroom is in use, there are also plenty of times during the day when the door will be left open. Be thinking about what you will be able to see through that open door. Surely it is more pleasing to have a view of the sink, rather than the toilet, for example.

When determining sight lines into a space, take a string or pencil mark and draw straight lines from each fixture to the other side of the door. If these lines pass through a wall (or the door), the view to that particular fixture is private. If the line has no obstruction, the fixture is in view.

 



 

5. PROPER VENTILATION

While a window can provide a natural and cost effective form of ventilation – it is not always possible to position one in the bathroom. In those situations, a vent fan is a definite must. In fact, it would be a smart idea to include a vent fan even if the room does have a window. Not only will it allow you to contain unpleasant smells and eliminate them quickly, it will also help with to avoid moisture accumulation – which can cause mold if not dealt with properly.

 

6. POSITION OF THE FIXTURES

The shape and size of the bathroom will help you determine the placement of each fixture. If you are starting from scratch, locating the plumbing along one wall can help reduce the cost of installation.

As discussed in topic #4, consider the more private fixtures, such as the toilet and shower, to be out of view when the door is opened.

 

7. LIGHTING & COLOR

Lighting is absolutely essential for bathrooms, especially near the sink/ vanity. Natural daylight is desirable, as is soft overhead lighting. Avoid fixtures that cast shadows on your face.

As mentioned in this post, the colors used in a bathroom can affect mood. If you want to create a peaceful and calm atmosphere, consider blues or greens. Yellow is a good option if you want your bathroom to invigorate you.

 



 

8. SHARING

Though bathrooms are typically a private space, there are times when two or more people will need to use it at the same time. If that is going to be the case for your family – whether it will be a husband + wife, or siblings using the bathroom at the same time – be thinking about ways that will allow the space to remain private and shared at the same time.

One common solution that designers have adopted is called the ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom. In this layout, the bathroom is accessed from two entry points (many times, two bedrooms). The sinks are in a public zone of the overall bathroom, and can be accessed at any time, but the toilet and shower/bathtub are positioned behind another door.

Another popular layout option is to give the toilet it’s own ‘closet’ within the overall bathroom – allowing it to be used in privacy, while keeping the rest of the room open.

 

Of course, there are many more decisions that will need to be made when designing your bathroom. Likely the fun ones – such as choosing flooring and accessories – are more exciting; But if you take the time to consider the eight important groundwork aspects outlined here, your bathroom will be functional and serve the occupants of your home well.

 

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